The History, Theory, and Practice of Illuminating: Condensed from 'The Art of Illuminating' by the same illustrator and authorWyatt, M. Digby (Matthew Digby), Sir
History
The History, Theory, and Practice of Illuminating: Condensed from 'The Art of Illuminating' by the same illustrator and author
Wyatt, M. Digby (Matthew Digby), Sir
Alphabet; Illumination of books and manuscripts; Initials
A contemporary of Giulio's, whose name has been overpowered by the greater
brilliancy of that of the Cellini of illumination, was a certain Apollonius
of Capranica, or, as he signs himself, "Apollonius de Bonfratellis de
Capranica, Capellæ et Sacristiæ Apostolicæ Miniator." Mr. Ottley most
justly states,[94] "that it is impossible to speak in too high terms of the
beauty of his borders, wherein he often introduces compartments with small
figures, representing subjects of the New Testament, which are touched with
infinite delicacy and spirit." His drawing, which is of a decidedly
Michael-Angelesque character, is of less merit when the nude is represented
on a larger scale. His harmony of colour is extraordinary, rather lower in
tone than Giulio Clovio's, but equally glowing, and more powerful. Some
beautiful specimens of his handicraft remain in the possession of Mr. T. M.
Whitehead. The late Mr. Rogers possessed many fragments, the most precious
of which have found their way into the National Collection. His work is
usually dated, and the dates appear to range from 1558 to 1572. Apollonius
having been official illuminator to the very institution from which Celotti
derived his richest spoils, it may readily be imagined that his collection
included an unprecedented series of beautiful examples of Buonfratelli's
style.
Long after the invention of printing, the Apostolic Chamber retained its
official illuminators; and among them one of the most noteworthy is
unquestionably the artist who signs his works, "Ant. Maria Antonotius
Auximas"--a native of Osimo, and a _protégé_ of the princely house of the
Barberini and its magnificent head, Urban VIII. (1623-1644). He was a pupil
of Pietro da Cortona, and an artist of great skill and refinement.[95]
For still more recent popes artists of great excellence continued to be
employed, including for Alexander VII. the celebrated Magdalena Corvina,
who worked from 1655 to 1657; and for Innocent XI (1676 to 1689) a German,
who signs his productions "Joann, frid-Heribach." As the popes retained
their illuminators for the decoration of precious documents, so did the
doges of Venice; and probably the most magnificent of all illumination,
executed after the general spread of printed books had checked, although
not extinguished, the art, may be found in the precious "Ducales," wrought
indeed by several of the greatest Venetian painters.[96]
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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